Medical advances now make it possible to undergo essential testing right in the comfort of your own home. This is especially true when it comes to hormone testing, as there are a variety of tests that can be ordered online and delivered right to your door.
Hormone levels have a major impact on many bodily functions. When levels are out of whack, people can experience a wide range of bothersome symptoms. Hormone dysfunction can cause extreme tiredness, digestive issues, depression, unwanted weight gain or loss, excessive urination and many other health effects.
When these symptoms arise, hormone testing can identify the underlying cause, which is the first step toward treating it. While convenient, you may be wondering whether online hormone tests are actually worthwhile. This guide provides important insights to help you make the right decision.
Types of Tests You Can Order Online
The body uses many hormones to perform its essential functions. As a result, problem hormone levels can cause a variety of health effects. There's a wide range of online hormone tests to choose from, including the following:
Menopause - These tests look for specific hormones that can indicate whether you've entered menopause. This is often the first step for getting help with bothersome issues like night sweats and insomnia.
Stress - Known as the stress hormone, cortisol is crucial for activating your fight or flight response. However, too much cortisol increases your risk of heart disease and other ailments, including headaches and nausea.
Genomics - Genomics testing studies your DNA, but not to find distant relations. Instead, this test looks for possible markers that could indicate a higher risk of certain diseases. By knowing these markers, you can make changes to your lifestyle to lower your disease risk.
Metabolism - Metabolism refers to the chemical reactions needed to convert food into energy. This test will measure the hormones necessary in the metabolic process to ensure they're working properly.
Thyroid - Your thyroid gland is also crucial for your metabolism, as it controls your metabolic rate. Some thyroids are underactive, while others are overactive. This test can help determine thyroid function and whether there are any issues you should be aware of.
Benefits of Online Hormone Tests
The biggest benefit offered by online hormone tests is the convenience they afford. Tests are sent directly to your home and contain easy to understand instructions to ensure you conduct testing appropriately. From there, you can send the completed test back to the lab and receive the results once they've been interpreted.
Online hormone tests can also be the first step to making healthy decisions regarding your life. For example, they can uncover the reasons for unintended weight gain, extreme fatigue and other issues that can get in the way of your quality of life.
Drawbacks of Online Hormone Tests
There are lots of reputable companies that offer hormone tests online, meaning you can trust the results provided. However, you must perform your due diligence to ensure you purchase from a reputable brand. Many of these tests are not approved by the FDA and may not be as comprehensive as the tests you would undergo in your doctor's office.
Additionally, you should get any new symptoms assessed by your doctor as they arise. Home hormone tests can provide insight, but you may still require treatment for the issues you're experiencing. Checking in with your doctor ensures you receive timely treatment to prevent bothersome symptoms and other effects.
Having greater control over your health and wellness is definitely a good thing. And when online hormone tests are used correctly, that's exactly what they provide.